First, let’s explain what an XMP file is.
- The XMP file is simply a TEXT file that contains all of the editing information about your RAW image.
- This information includes data such as White Balance, Exposure, Brightness, but also includes additional data like Cropping, Local Adjustments, as well as Labels, Flags, Ratings.
In addition to editing data, also has any text data you’ve loaded into the file like Keywords, Descriptions and IPTC data.
By using the “sidecar” XMP file, your RAW file never truly is edited, always preserving its original data.
The XMP is just a “how-to” for Adobe programs to understand what needs to be done to the corresponding RAW file.
You never need to OPEN the XMP file, it won’t do you any good to read it, but it might be fun!
You can use any Text Editing application to see what is actually going on inside!
When we send you XMP files, they are all ready to be joined with their RAW file counterparts.
It’s very important that each XMP file is in the same folder as the RAW file that it belongs to. The XMP file ONLY works with the same-named file, in the same folder.
If you sent us files in multiple folders, the XMP files must be in the appropriate subfolders to show the edits.
Loading the edits is just a few clicks away.
- Once you have downloaded the XMP files from us, simply COPY all of the XMP files into your RAW folder(s).
** If you need assistance Downloading and Unzipping the XMP files you probably need an ‘unarchiver’! **
Most Macintosh machines come preloaded with a program that can ‘unzip’ the .zip files, but Windows Machines do not.
You can use a free program such as: http://www.7-zip.org/*
Colorati assumes no responsibly for downloading any programs to your machine.
Loading XMP Data:
- If you are using Adobe Lightroom, simply Select all of the files in your Library that you had sent to us, Right-Click and choose “Read Metadata from File”
- This will tell the Lightroom Catalog to use the associated XMP file in the folder with the RAW file and update the catalog with the new settings.
- If you are using Adobe Bridge, just open a Bridge window to the folder containing the RAW files and the edits will start to appear!
Also, below you’ll find links to the Dr. Brown Scripts we mention. Don’t be afraid to use them, they’re powerful! 
Links:
At this point, all of your edits should be done, or are still populating in your Adobe application.
If your Color Edits don’t load after a few minutes, just send us an email and we’ll take a look!
If you notice that any Star Ratings, Labels, Keywords etc are missing, or if the Edits are NOT showing up, please don’t hesitate to send us an email and we’ll check it out right away!
When sending us Small DNGs, sometimes the XMP files need a little extra tweaking to work just right, but it’s a quick fix.
Please note that when we send back XMP files, we are assuming you are using RAW files (CR2/NEF/ARW/ORF). If you happen to use Full Resolution DNG files, and send us Small DNGs, we will send you back XMP files for RAW files. We can’t see that you are using DNG files on your end and we don’t automatically set the XMPs to work with your Full Resolution DNG files. Just let us know and we’ll get you a new set that works with the DNGs!
- If you are using Adobe Lightroom, simply Select all of the files in your Library that you had sent to us, Right-Click and choose “Read Metadata from File”
- This will tell the Lightroom Catalog to use the associated XMP file in the folder with the RAW file and update the catalog with the new settings.
- If you are using Adobe Bridge, just open a Bridge window to the folder containing the RAW files and the edits will start to appear!
Also, below you’ll find links to the Dr. Brown Scripts we mention. Don’t be afraid to use them, they’re powerful!
Links:
At this point, all of your edits should be done, or are still populating in your Adobe application.
If your Color Edits don’t load after a few minutes, just send us an email and we’ll take a look!
If you notice that any Star Ratings, Labels, Keywords etc are missing, or if the Edits are NOT showing up, please don’t hesitate to send us an email and we’ll check it out right away!
When sending us Small DNGs, sometimes the XMP files need a little extra tweaking to work just right, but it’s a quick fix.
Please note that when we send back XMP files, we are assuming you are using RAW files (CR2/NEF/ARW/ORF). If you happen to use Full Resolution DNG files, and send us Small DNGs, we will send you back XMP files for RAW files. We can’t see that you are using DNG files on your end and we don’t automatically set the XMPs to work with your Full Resolution DNG files. Just let us know and we’ll get you a new set that works with the DNGs!